Here we see, 80 years ago today, the class-leading fleet carrier USS Essex (CV-9) docked at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, on 8 August 1943.
National Archives 80-G-K-551
And another photo from the same day shot from a different angle.
80-G-K-547
The fourth USS Essex, as shown above, was brand new to the fleet, having just been commissioned on New Year’s Eve 1942 and, following a rushed seven-month shakedown cruise/post-delivery refit period, was in Pearl on her last stop before getting in the war.
By the end of the month, with CVG-9 (VF-9, VB-9, VT-9, and VS-9) embarked, she would be with TF 15 in carrier operations against Japanese-held Marcus Island.
The first of her 24-ship class to see combat, Essex received the Presidential Unit Citation and 13 battle stars for World War II service, then after modernization and reclassification to an attack aircraft carrier (CVA-9), would earn another 4 battle stars and the Navy Unit Commendation for Korean war service– with a young LT Neil Armstrong flying F9F-2 Panthers from her deck. Following a second modernization and redesignation to an antisubmarine warfare carrier (CVS-9), she would play a key role in the Cuban Missile Crisis and recover Apollo 7.
Following a busy 26-year career, Essex was decommissioned on 30 June 1969 at Boston Navy Yard and sold for scrapping in 1975.